By Janine Moodley
South African music legend, DJ Euphonik is all set to hit the Durban shores this weekend to give us the best house mixes he has to offer. Naturally, Janine Moodley contacted the DJ, radio and television presenter and entrepreneur to find out about this spiraling effect he has on music.
JM: So Euphonik tell us….what sets you apart from the mass of DJs in South Africa?
E: I think my passion and my willingness to pursue all my dreams, I am very persistent and I never give up.
Music is a difficult business to be in, especially because being a DJ falls part of the informal sector so its really not that easy to maintain a career in. Your relevance is based on whether people like you or not.
JM: Your latest album, Total Blackout has been nominated in the 12th Annual Metro Fm Awards. How do you feel about that?
E: To be brutally it does not change anything about me or the quality of the album in my opinion. I prefer to win the hearts of the public with my music as opposed to awards which in the bigger scheme of things put more pressure on you than anything else. I am however grateful for the recognition.
JM: I'm sure there are tons of girls following you around wherever you perform, how do you handle the extremity of some 'over-the-top' fans?
E: Honestly there is no manual for how to deal with people. I cope because I’m chilled about it and I realize that there are people like that and all they want is for you to smile and give them 1 minute of your time. I call them “super fans” because they love you more for what you do than yourself.
JM: So speaking of girls, are you seeing anyone serious at the moment?
E: Yes I’m in a serious relationship and its gots its ups and downs but we are extremely happy.
JM: Have you ever had a situation on stage where things did not go according to plan and you had to improvise?
E: Yes ALL the time. Especially since some promoters in South Africa just don’t understand how to do things the right way. So every weekend if its not this its that, so I’ve taught myself to be in control of as much as I can be and always be prepared.
JM: Which is your best city in South Africa to perform at?
E: Definitely Durban. The energy of the fans that attend the events you can’t compare to anywhere else in the country.
JM: Tell us about your overseas tours, how do people from other countries respond to your music?
E: I’m slowly and surely building a name overseas but it’s not always easy. Most of the events I have played at when overseas are for South Africans that have moved to those countries, theoretically it was as if I was playing back home. Things are getting super exciting because non South Africans are taking notice of what we are doing.
JM: How do you keep your music fresh, interesting and unique to who you are as a DJ? Also, your best collaboration to date would be?
E: I make a lot of my own music now and I spend about 5 hours a week hunting for new music. Being on the radio also allows me to be on the forefront of the scene and be a tastemaker. I’d say my collaborations with Shota are the best so far because we the sound we make is Afro-Electro which is a fusion of South African vocals and Electronic Dance Music (EDM).
JM: What can your fans expect from you for 2013. What's the next big thing for Euphonik?
E: A lot of international travels and more of an effort to break and introduce South African DJ’s and producers overseas.
JM: What can we expect from your performance at the Vodacom Unlimited Empyre event in Durban?
E: Nothing but heat! One of the things I’m very good at is reading a crowds energy and working with it so a lot of Singing along and jumping!
Just for fun:
JM: Summer or Winter?
E: Winter
JM: Horror or comedy?
E: Comedy! Nothing beats a good laugh to the point where your stomach hurts.
JM: Cars or girls?
E: How’s a girl in a car?
JM: Formal or casual?
E: Definitely casual. I'm not a fan of formal wear.
JM: Sand in your toes or hands by the fire?
E: Sand in my toes it’s the one thing I look forward to about the coast.
